Veering left off Mercer Street and heading into a crowded Memorial Stadium on Sunday, participants in the Seattle Marathon were treated to a scene appropriate to the site of Bumbershoot's main stage. People everywhere. Many of whom were dripping with sweat.

Stuart Burton of Beaverton, Ore., and Annie Thiessen of Tacoma won the men's and women's divisions of the 38th Seattle Marathon on a misty morning that was unseasonably humid for Western Washington. Both are first-time winners of the race.

A record 12,400 runners took part in Sunday's event, which also included a 13.1-mile half-marathon won by Steve Dekoker of Seattle (1:11:50) and Kristi Houk of Port Orchard (1:23:03).

Burton bested UW cross country runner Caleb Knox in the full marathon by 16 seconds, taking over the lead about five miles in and forging a sizable advantage by the midway point.

"I just knew I had to run tempo for the second half," said Burton, a seasoned veteran who has competed in big races the world over. "For someone to beat me, they would have to catch me."

In September, Burton won a marquee event in the Netherlands. Now, his attention turns to the sport's most famous marathon.

"This is right where I expected to be with Boston in mind for next year," he said.

For Thiessen, a veterinarian who first competed in the Seattle Marathon in 1995 and was runner-up last year, Sunday's victory capped a brilliant year in which she won eight races. It was the 30th marathon victory of her career.

Theissen gained control with about six miles to go and never looked back. Nell Stephenson of Preston finished second in 3:03:29.

"I really liked the way I took over when I did as opposed to being in the lead for the last 20 miles," Thiessen said. "When you pass someone at mile 20 you know you have a pretty good chance."

At the finish line, runners young and old let loose a wide range of emotions. Hugs and high-fives were everywhere, while others erupted in tears of joy when they received silver finisher's medals from congratulatory volunteers.

Erik Phillipson, an 11-year-old Leschi resident who finished his third Seattle half-marathon with a time of just over three hours, walked the first half of the race and ran the second. All alone at the end, Phillipson glowed as he confessed to beating both of his parents to the finish line.

"I walk 2 1/2 miles to school every day," he said. "It's kind of like my training."

One person who was exceptionally thankful to be in the stadium was Mike Benson. Last year, Benson suffered a massive heart attack just 30 yards short of the finish line and spent nearly three days in a coma before coming to with little recollection of the race or the harrowing days that followed.

"All my appreciation and thankfulness to everyone involved in the Seattle Marathon," said Benson, who also thanked Mike Daley, the retired cardiologist who jumped the barricade to give Benson CPR shortly after he collapsed.

"Everyone has been really great this past year. I'm here today because of them."

Benson, whose family has a history of heart disease, is well on his way to recovery. Though marathon running is likely out of the question -- his wife, Sarita, said "No way!" -- Benson started biking a few months ago and is happy to be out and about once again. Sarita calls him a "beast" on the bicycle.

On Sunday, virtually one year to the day after their lives were shaken to the core, the Bensons returned to Memorial Stadium to hold the banner across the finish line as Burton won his first Seattle Marathon. It was a difficult day, but a momentous one.

"It's closure," Sarita Benson said. "It's hard to be here and remember that day, but it's really emotional to see all the runners' faces. This is such a great event, and we're just really happy for everyone."